鱷(e)(e)(e)(e)龜(gui)(gui),是現(xian)存最(zui)古老的(de)爬行動物(wu),世(shi)界最(zui)大(da)(da)(da)(da)的(de)淡(dan)水龜(gui)(gui)之一、有(you)淡(dan)水動物(wu)王者之稱(cheng)(cheng),分為兩大(da)(da)(da)(da)種(zhong)類,俗稱(cheng)(cheng)大(da)(da)(da)(da)鱷(e)(e)(e)(e)與(yu)小(xiao)鱷(e)(e)(e)(e)。大(da)(da)(da)(da)鱷(e)(e)(e)(e)又名(ming)真鱷(e)(e)(e)(e)龜(gui)(gui),小(xiao)鱷(e)(e)(e)(e)又名(ming)擬鱷(e)(e)(e)(e)龜(gui)(gui),擬鱷(e)(e)(e)(e)龜(gui)(gui)三個亞種(zhong),分別是北(bei)美擬鱷(e)(e)(e)(e)龜(gui)(gui)、南美擬鱷(e)(e)(e)(e)龜(gui)(gui)、中美擬鱷(e)(e)(e)(e)龜(gui)(gui)。鱷(e)(e)(e)(e)龜(gui)(gui)因(yin)體型(xing)大(da)(da)(da)(da)且攻擊性強,曾由于人類的(de)獵殺失(shi)去棲息地(di),被世(shi)界自然保護聯盟列成易危(wei)物(wu)種(zhong)。
鱷(e)(e)龜長(chang)相酷似(si)鱷(e)(e)魚,集(ji)龜和鱷(e)(e)魚于一(yi)體,故稱(cheng)鱷(e)(e)龜。其頭部(bu)較粗(cu)大,不能完全縮入殼內,脖短而粗(cu)壯(zhuang),領(ling)背(bei)(bei)(bei)(bei)長(chang)有(you)(you)褐色(se)(se)肉刺,眼(yan)細(xi)小,嘴巴上(shang)(shang)下(xia)頜較小,吻尖,尾(wei)巴尖而長(chang),兩邊(bian)具(ju)棱(leng)(leng),棱(leng)(leng)上(shang)(shang)長(chang)有(you)(you)肉突刺,尾(wei)背(bei)(bei)(bei)(bei)前邊(bian)三分(fen)之(zhi)二處有(you)(you)一(yi)條鱗皮狀隆(long)起棱(leng)(leng)背(bei)(bei)(bei)(bei),并呈(cheng)鋸齒口狀,背(bei)(bei)(bei)(bei)殼很薄,上(shang)(shang)皮以棕(zong)褐色(se)(se)為主(zhu),偶爾棕(zong)黃色(se)(se),背(bei)(bei)(bei)(bei)部(bu)具(ju)有(you)(you)三條模糊棱(leng)(leng),并有(you)(you)放射(she)狀斑紋,后緣(yuan)呈(cheng)齒狀,腹(fu)部(bu)白色(se)(se),偶有(you)(you)小黑(hei)(hei)斑點,幼(you)時黑(hei)(hei)色(se)(se),四肢粗(cu)壯(zhuang),肌肉發達,爪子尖而有(you)(you)力,善于爬行。